Despite the mediocre reviews, I went to see "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" to see what visuals go with T. Bone Burnett's latest rootsy soundtrack and to support a woman director, Callie Khouri, as she had such a tough time getting a green light.
I guess because I had low expectations, I really enjoyed this estrogen-fest. The Old Broads are relaxed and just having fun, Sandra Bullock is cute, and Ashley Judd gets to sparkle and emote. Ellen Burstyn, in particular, gets to be much livelier than in the TV series "That's Life," and there are similar body language flashes by both where you can think Judd is the younger Burstyn.
I could very much relate to the mother/daughter issues from both sides of the parental divide, so, yeah, I teared up several times. It reminded me a lot of "How To Make An American Quilt." I haven't read the books this is based on (one of them has been sitting on my book shelf) so I don't know if they explain some holes in the plot -- like where are Bullock's siblings? Wasn't she close to her mom's friends' kids like siblings, so where are they? And why are the men they attract just so darn nice and cuddly?
Burnett's musical choices, some new, some covers, some old, some archival, are charming, aided by the coincidental Louisiana setting; particularly touching is use of Richard and Linda Thompson's "Dimming of the Day."
(originally written 6/6/2002)
I guess because I had low expectations, I really enjoyed this estrogen-fest. The Old Broads are relaxed and just having fun, Sandra Bullock is cute, and Ashley Judd gets to sparkle and emote. Ellen Burstyn, in particular, gets to be much livelier than in the TV series "That's Life," and there are similar body language flashes by both where you can think Judd is the younger Burstyn.
I could very much relate to the mother/daughter issues from both sides of the parental divide, so, yeah, I teared up several times. It reminded me a lot of "How To Make An American Quilt." I haven't read the books this is based on (one of them has been sitting on my book shelf) so I don't know if they explain some holes in the plot -- like where are Bullock's siblings? Wasn't she close to her mom's friends' kids like siblings, so where are they? And why are the men they attract just so darn nice and cuddly?
Burnett's musical choices, some new, some covers, some old, some archival, are charming, aided by the coincidental Louisiana setting; particularly touching is use of Richard and Linda Thompson's "Dimming of the Day."
(originally written 6/6/2002)